Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Like Father Like Son














For generations, sheep herding was transferred from father to son on the steep slopes of Sardinia. In 1964, Giovanni broke this tradition and moved his Sardinian milk sheep and his Sardinian family for a new future; he left his homeland and purchased farmland in the hills of Italy.

Pasquale is one of the five siblings that will inherit his father’s sheep and 120 hectare farm. In the meantime, the farm continues to produce pecorino and ricotta cheese from the sheep milk. To feed the sheep, the farm cultivates wheat, spelt, barley, maize and oats. To feed the family, Marjatta runs an Agriturismo and feeds the guests.

It’s a lot of work, every day, all year round; yet the couple is jovial and humorous.

“Will you pass the sheep to your sons?” I ask Pasquale while we’re painting the walls in the restaurant.

“Oh no.” he answers with conviction. “I love my sons.”

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